§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given the Scottish new town development corporations on the privatisation of functions and the sale of assets; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe Government have no intention of altering the statutory functions of the Scottish new town development corporations. The Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 and its associated regulations require them to put certain work out to tender. In addition the Department has asked the development corporations, when commissioning any work, to consider all available options, including contracting out, wherever it would be financially 17W advantageous or more efficient to do so. As for the sale of assets, the development corporations were asked in June 1979 to dispose of assets both as part of the Government's disposal programme and to finance further development. This remains the Government's policy.